Red Door

We arrived after a 5am flight feeling wiped out, and the staff kindly arranged an early check-in even though the hotel was fully booked. Peemai deserves a special mention for her thoughtful service. Since the annexe has no lift, staff also carried our heavy bags up from the cloakroom when we came back for our rooms. That kindness let us get a few hours of sleep before heading out, and we were very grateful. The hotel itself is a small, modern boutique place, tucked away around a pretty courtyard. It's very clean and has friendly staff. Getting all the way to the door by car is a little tricky, but walking there is easy. Breakfast had a good range of choices for everyone, with views from the rooftop restaurant. There's also a lovely pool, and the place feels cosy and just right for a couple of nights in the city. The location worked well for shops, sights, massage parlours and the famous khaosan road. The pier is nearby too, for boats to other parts of town. Highly recommend it.

Breakfast was a real highlight. We enjoyed the Thai dishes, including Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiao and Moo Hong, along with American breakfast options, different ways to have eggs, coffee and desserts. Both the food and service were better than we expected. We could easily walk to Phra Sumen Fort, Banglamphu, Khao San Road, Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace. Coming back at night felt safe, with a well-lit route that wasn't scary. If you're around between 2 and 4 PM, that's tea time at the hotel, with tea and light snacks in a pleasant setting. Beezy welcomed us warmly and looked after us from check-in through check-out. Beyond the entrance, the guest room area felt calm, green and relaxing. Before we arrived, staff let us know there was a problem with the room we'd booked, then sorted it out professionally and efficiently ahead of time, so arrival and check-in went smoothly. We picked Red Door Samsen for its convenient location near the Night at the Museum event, which made getting around easy. We had a really enjoyable stay and would happily come back for the peaceful atmosphere and thoughtful hospitality.

By our third night, we were ready to leave and not return. We went in with high expectations from the good reviews and nice-looking photos, but the stay had too many annoyances to feel comfortable. We booked the cheapest low-floor room without a view, and based on its condition, I suspect the higher-end rooms may have the same issues. I would avoid this hotel. The room smelled very musty and felt damp, with chipped walls. Now and then, a sewer smell came from the bathroom, and it got worse as the nights went on. The Wi-Fi was unreliable, ranging from decent to unusable, and often dropping every few minutes. The bed itself was fairly comfortable, but the pillows were hard and too tall for us, making sleep uncomfortable. Noise was another problem: the soundproofing was poor, and we could easily hear guests outside. Worst of all were the birds, which woke us at 4 every night. When we raised it with staff, they gave us some cheap earplugs that obviously didn't come close to solving it. The stay wasn't all bad, but these problems made it difficult to rest.

We chose a double room with a balcony and garden view, and really enjoyed our time here. Breakfast was delicious, with lots of variety, and the staff were very helpful. The hotel is close to many of Bangkok's best-known attractions.